Knightstown dates to 1827, and 52% of its homes were built before 1940
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. What drives it
4 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 536 buildings. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1870.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Knightstown is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its age lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Knightstown’s overall grade.
Indiana towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Indiana town has 7.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Knightstown’s 2,423 sits above most of its state (100% of Indiana towns have fewer) while its 543 historic buildings outnumber those of 97% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±5.7 points). Two sources give 1827.
Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Knightstown’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Knightstown was founded and platted by Waitsell M. Cary in 1827, the same year Knightstown was incorporated. It was named for Jonathan Knight, an engineer on the National Road and U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania. A post office has operated in Knightstown since 1833.
The Elias Hinshaw House, Knightstown Academy, and Knightstown Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Passages that mention Knightstown, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-19061906Read the page →
Read the text
Reuben Peden was instantly killed, Friday, December i. 1893. His warehouse was located immediately south of the Panhandle depot at Knightstown. In the course of his business, it was his daily custom to carry his mail across the tracks of the railroad to the depot and there mail it. On the day mentioned a freight train, standing on the side track between the main track and his warehouse, had been cut in two to make an opening for the Jefiferson Street crossing, just west of his place of business. At this moment Mr. Peden, in pursuance of his custom, started to cross the track, but his view was obstructed by the freight train
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-19061906 · page 40Read the page →
Read the text
This office was located in the northwest corner of Wayne township, at the old town of Elizabeth City, six miles from Knightstown. After the establishment of the towns of Kennard and Wilkinson on the railroad, the business of the place gradually fell off, and upon the establishment of the Rural Free Delivery System, the postoffice was finally discontinued.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Knightstown, 1827 to 1960
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Knightstown. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1960Knightstown sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Knightstown.
Every building
Knightstown, building by building, 1885–1916
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
Knightstown’s post office has been open since 1833. Another post office, West Liberty, opened and closed inside today’s town.
West Liberty
1827–1831
Knightstown
1833–today
18201920today
1cemetery inside Knightstown
Glencove
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Knightstown’s history
What year was Knightstown founded?
In 1827, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Knightstown’s post office opened in 1827, and the census of 1870 counted 1,528 people here.
How does Knightstown rank for history?
Knightstown is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Knightstown?
4 listings: 2 buildings, among them the Knightstown Academy (listed 1976, the first), 1 historic district, the Knightstown Historic District, with 536 contributing buildings, and 1 site. 543 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Knightstown?
52% of Knightstown’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.7 points), against a typical 14% for an Indiana town; the median home was built in 1938.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (10), the National Register of Historic Places (4), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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